US20140150752A1 - Method And System For Cleaning A Charcoal Canister Of An Emissions System Using A Fuel Cell - Google Patents
Method And System For Cleaning A Charcoal Canister Of An Emissions System Using A Fuel Cell Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140150752A1 US20140150752A1 US13/691,871 US201213691871A US2014150752A1 US 20140150752 A1 US20140150752 A1 US 20140150752A1 US 201213691871 A US201213691871 A US 201213691871A US 2014150752 A1 US2014150752 A1 US 2014150752A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fuel cell
- canister
- vehicle
- hydrocarbons
- electricity
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M33/00—Other apparatus for treating combustion-air, fuel or fuel-air mixture
- F02M33/02—Other apparatus for treating combustion-air, fuel or fuel-air mixture for collecting and returning condensed fuel
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M25/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture
- F02M25/08—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir
- F02M25/089—Layout of the fuel vapour installation
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M16/00—Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
- H01M2008/1293—Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M2250/00—Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system
- H01M2250/20—Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
- H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02T90/40—Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Supplying Secondary Fuel Or The Like To Fuel, Air Or Fuel-Air Mixtures (AREA)
- Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to vapor management systems of vehicles and, more particularly, to a system and method for cleaning a charcoal canister with a fuel cell.
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FIG. 1 shows a conventional evaporative emission control system (EVAP), generally indicated at 10, of a motor vehicle including a fuel vapor collection canister (e.g., a carbon canister) 12 and a normally closedcanister purge valve 14 connected between afuel tank 16 and anintake manifold 18 of aninternal combustion engine 20 in a known fashion. A normally opencanister vent valve 22 is in fluid communication between avapor collection canister 12 and ambient atmospheric conditions via afilter 24. Under certain conditions, thepurge valve 14 is opened and hydrocarbon vapors are drawn into theintake manifold 18 to be consumed by theengine 20. - With plug-in hybrid vehicles, vehicle operation may be such that the
gas engine 20 may never need to be operated to charge the battery system. The vehicle fuel economy improves when the battery system is charged directly in the plug-in mode. However, if the gas engine is not operated, no vacuum is created at theintake manifold 18 for purging of thecanister 12. Even without gas engine operation, thecanister 12 will absorb hydrocarbons, after refueling or in hot weather, which will need to be purged. - Thus, there is a need for an evaporative emission control system to clean the canister at times when a gas engine of the vehicle is not operating.
- An object of the invention is to fulfill the need referred to above. In accordance with the principles of an embodiment, this objective is achieved by an evaporative emission control system for a vehicle. The system includes a fuel tank, a vapor collection canister in communication with the fuel tank so as to receive hydrocarbons, a fuel cell in communication with the canister, and a pump constructed and arranged to pump hydrocarbons from the canister to the fuel cell so that the fuel cell can purge the canister by converting the hydrocarbons to water, carbon dioxide and electricity.
- In accordance with another aspect of an embodiment, a plug-in hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor providing a primary driving force for the vehicle, a battery pack for supplying electricity to operate the motor, an internal combustion engine for providing power to the vehicle when the battery pack is not capable of supplying electricity to operate motor, a fuel tank for supplying fuel to the engine, a vapor collection canister in communication with the fuel tank so as to receive hydrocarbons, a fuel cell in communication with the canister, and a pump constructed and arranged to pump hydrocarbons from the canister to the fuel cell so that the fuel cell can purge the canister by converting the hydrocarbons to water, carbon dioxide and electricity even when the engine is not operating.
- In accordance with yet another aspect of an embodiment, a method of purging hydrocarbons from an evaporative emission control system of a vehicle provides an evaporative control system including a fuel tank, a vapor collection canister in communication with the fuel tank, and a fuel cell in communication with the canister. Hydrocarbons are sent from the canister to the fuel cell so that the fuel cell can purge the canister by converting the hydrocarbons to water, carbon dioxide and electricity.
- Other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and the functions of the related elements of the structure, the combination of parts and economics of manufacture will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification.
- The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a conventional evaporative emission control system. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a plug-in hybrid vehicle having an evaporative emission control system that permits cleaning of the canister using a fuel cell. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , an evaporative emission control system for a vehicle is shown, generally indicated at 26, in accordance with an embodiment. Thesystem 26 comprises afuel tank 16, a charcoalvapor collection canister 12 in communication with thetank 16, afuel cell 28 in communication with thecanister 12, and apump 30 constructed and arranged to pump hydrocarbons from thecanister 12 to thefuel cell 28 so that thefuel cell 28 can purge thecanister 12 by converting the hydrocarbons to water, carbon dioxide and electricity. - In the embodiment, the
fuel cell 28 is preferably a solid state oxide fuel cell for oxidizing hydrocarbons to produce electricity preferably in the range of about 13-48V. The electricity generated by thefuel cell 28 is received by abattery 32 for storing electrical energy. - The vehicle, generally indicated at 34, is preferably a plug-in hybrid vehicle an
electric motor 36 for providing the primary force for driving thewheels 37 of thevehicle 34. Abattery pack 38, charged by being plugged into an electrical outlet, provides electricity to operate themotor 36. As used herein, “battery pack” can include one or more batteries. Theelectric motor 36 drives thewheels 37 until the batteries of thebattery pack 38 are drained. Once the batteries are drained, aninternal combustion engine 20, supplied with fuel from thefuel tank 16, is employed to provide the power to drive thewheels 37 in the conventional manner and to charge thebattery pack 38. - Thus, the
system 26 allows cleaning or purging of thecanister 12, in compliance with EVAP emission regulations, without operating theengine 20′. This maximizes fuel economy as more battery charging occurs in the plug-in mode, reduces exhaust emissions caused by engine cycles for cleaning thecanister 12 since only the fuel recovered from the canister is oxidized, and converts hydrocarbons directly to electricity, which is the primary energy form on thevehicle 34. Also, the efficiency of theengine 20′ and alternator do not reduce the energy stored in thebattery 32. Thesystem 26 also reduces the vehicle calibration complexity and engineering cost since thesystem 26 will work independently of theengine 20′. - The foregoing preferred embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the structural and functional principles of the present invention, as well as illustrating the methods of employing the preferred embodiments and are subject to change without departing from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit of the following claims.
Claims (11)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/691,871 US9115675B2 (en) | 2012-12-03 | 2012-12-03 | Method and system for cleaning a charcoal canister of an emissions system using a fuel cell |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/691,871 US9115675B2 (en) | 2012-12-03 | 2012-12-03 | Method and system for cleaning a charcoal canister of an emissions system using a fuel cell |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20140150752A1 true US20140150752A1 (en) | 2014-06-05 |
US9115675B2 US9115675B2 (en) | 2015-08-25 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/691,871 Expired - Fee Related US9115675B2 (en) | 2012-12-03 | 2012-12-03 | Method and system for cleaning a charcoal canister of an emissions system using a fuel cell |
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Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11037364B2 (en) * | 2016-10-11 | 2021-06-15 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image processing system for generating a virtual viewpoint image, method of controlling image processing system, and storage medium |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20020124836A1 (en) * | 2001-03-08 | 2002-09-12 | Reddy Sam Raghuma | Pox cold start vapor system |
US7353897B2 (en) * | 2003-07-23 | 2008-04-08 | Fernandez Dennis S | Telematic method and apparatus with integrated power source |
US7448367B1 (en) * | 2007-07-13 | 2008-11-11 | Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. | Evaporative emission control in battery powered vehicle with gasoline engine powered generator |
US20090084363A1 (en) * | 2007-09-27 | 2009-04-02 | Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. | Regeneration of Evaporative Emision Control System for Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle |
US20120138022A1 (en) * | 2010-12-01 | 2012-06-07 | Kia Motors Corporation | Method for controlling evaporation gas treating apparatus in vehicle |
US20130152905A1 (en) * | 2011-12-19 | 2013-06-20 | Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. | Hydrocarbon sensor for purging canister of extended range electric vehicle |
US8495863B2 (en) * | 2008-06-25 | 2013-07-30 | Mahle International Gmbh | Tank ventilation device and associated operating method |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5248566A (en) | 1991-11-25 | 1993-09-28 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Fuel cell system for transportation applications |
-
2012
- 2012-12-03 US US13/691,871 patent/US9115675B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20020124836A1 (en) * | 2001-03-08 | 2002-09-12 | Reddy Sam Raghuma | Pox cold start vapor system |
US7353897B2 (en) * | 2003-07-23 | 2008-04-08 | Fernandez Dennis S | Telematic method and apparatus with integrated power source |
US7448367B1 (en) * | 2007-07-13 | 2008-11-11 | Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. | Evaporative emission control in battery powered vehicle with gasoline engine powered generator |
US20090084363A1 (en) * | 2007-09-27 | 2009-04-02 | Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. | Regeneration of Evaporative Emision Control System for Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle |
US8495863B2 (en) * | 2008-06-25 | 2013-07-30 | Mahle International Gmbh | Tank ventilation device and associated operating method |
US20120138022A1 (en) * | 2010-12-01 | 2012-06-07 | Kia Motors Corporation | Method for controlling evaporation gas treating apparatus in vehicle |
US20130152905A1 (en) * | 2011-12-19 | 2013-06-20 | Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. | Hydrocarbon sensor for purging canister of extended range electric vehicle |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11037364B2 (en) * | 2016-10-11 | 2021-06-15 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image processing system for generating a virtual viewpoint image, method of controlling image processing system, and storage medium |
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US9115675B2 (en) | 2015-08-25 |
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Owner name: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC., MICHIGAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WOODS, BRIAN GORDON;BALSDON, DAVID WILLIAM;REEL/FRAME:029389/0798 Effective date: 20121128 |
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